Railway car handling mechanism

ABSTRACT

The mechanism includes a transfer table movably situated in a pit and having a track segment which can be aligned with a section of railway track extending to the pit, a sled assembly mounted on a first guide track extending parallel to the track section, a table sled mounted on a second guide track supported by the table and extending parallel to the track segment, and a motor on the table for reciprocating the table sled. The sled assembly has a coupling element on one end thereof closest to the pit and a plurality of railway car engaging arms on, and spaced along, the sled assembly for simultaneously engaging and advancing a plurality of uncoupled railway cars located on the track section when the sled assembly is moved toward the pit. A coupling member is mounted on one end of the table sled and can extend beyond one end of the table to engage the coupling element for moving the sled assembly to move railway cars onto the transfer table when the table sled is reciprocated by the motor through a stroke length at least equal to the length of one railway car.

United States Patent Wallace J Saxonmeyer Park Forest, Ill.

[21] Appl. No. 743,996

[22] Filed July 11, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19,1971

[7 3] Assignee Whiting Corporation a corporation of Illinois [72] lnventor [54] RAILWAY CAR HANDLING MECHANISM 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

3,408,953 11/1968 Saxonmeyer 3,448,693 6/1969 Graham ABSTRACT: The mechanism includes a transfer table movably situated .in a pit and having a track segment which can be aligned with a section of railway track extending to the pit, a sled assembly mounted on a first guide track extending parallel to the track section, a table sled mounted on a second guide track supported by the table and extending parallel to the track segment, and a motor on the table for reciprocating the table sled. The'sled assembly has a coupling element on one end thereof closest to the pit and a plurality of railway car engaging arms on, and spaced along, the sled assembly for simultaneously engaging and advancing a plurality of uncoupled railway cars located on the track section when the sled assembly is moved toward the pit. A coupling member is mounted on one end of the table sled and can extend beyond one end of the table to engage the coupling element for moving the sled assembly to move railway cars onto the transfer table when the table sled is reciprocated by the motor through a stroke length at least equal to the length of one railway car.

PATENT E D JAN 1 9 19m SHEET 1 OF 4 .R mm m w O mX A 8 I E C A L M W ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED JAN 1 .9 l9?! SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR WALLACE J.

SA ONM 4 x EYER "27 ATTORNEYS.

"PATENIED M19191: I I 3,55s;011

sum 3 BF 4 INVENTOR.

WALLACE J.SAXONMEYER BY dWwMf 'M y.

ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEU m 9197i 31556111 1 SHEET l5 0F 4 INVENTOR. WALLACE J. SAXONMEYER ATTORNEYS.

A primary object" of the present invention is the provision of newandf improvedlmeans for simultaneously advancing a plumechanism is adapted toadvance a substantial number of railway cars. 7

Stillanother object ofthe present invention isthe provision of a new and improved'mechanism for advancing railway cars one at a time top a. transfer table, such cars. being located in spaced uncoupled relation alonga track section.

Another objectof'the present invention isthe provision of mechanism according to. the foregoing] object, wherein powered means for advancing the railway cars is carried by the transfer table.

Still another object of thepresentinvention is the provision of an improved transferytable and-a shop sled provided with means for. advancing railway cars one at a time to thetransfer table, the railway cars beinglocated in spaced uncoupled relation along a track section, such shop sled having extended reach capability for advancing railway cars located a substantial distance fromthe transfer table.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe followingspecification disclosing a, preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. Lis a top plan view, largely diagrammatic, of atypical installation which includes the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken along the line 2-2 of FIGJ;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the sled which is carriedbythe transfer table;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side elevational view of one of the robots forming part of the table sled;

FIG. 5 isa fragmentary, side elevational view of the robot of FIG. 4. showing the car engaging member in its collapsed position; 1' i I FIG. 6.is an enlarged section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7.is a fragmentary, side elevational view, largely diagrammatic, of one of the shop sleds;

FIG. 8is an enlarged section taken along'line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. I0'is an enlarged side elevational view ofthe subject matter included within thecircle designated A in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is atop plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a transfer table, generally designated 10, is mounted on rails 12for reciprocalmovement in a pit 14. The transfer table may be of any suitable construction, but preferably is thetype shown and described in mypending application, Ser. No. 548,740, flied May 9, 1966 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,953. The transfer table carries rails 15 defining a segment. of railway track for supporting one or more railway cars on the transfer table depending on the length of such cars.

Stationary rails 16 define a plurality of railway track sections l8each having an end thereof terminating at one side wallof the pit 14. It willbeunderstood that the transfer table l0 is movable for aligning the rails 15 with selected rails 16. A suitable control system for-the transfer table is shown and describedinmy U.S. Pat. 3,l69,490.

Theinstallation justdescribed maybe in a building or area whereinrailway cars are manufactured, loaded or unloaded, or repairedsln,such installations, the railway cars may be located along the various sections 18 in uncoupled, spaced relation. In=carrying out any ,of theaforesaid operations, it is requiredthat the railway cars be'progressed alongthe various track sections 18 and moved from one of saidtrack sections to another by means of the transfer table 10. The track sections 18 on which railway cars are located in spaced uncoupled relation may extend as much as 1,000 feet from the pit 14. The

present inventionhas to do with mechanism for simultaneously progressing or advancing the railway cars toward the transfer table 10. 7

To this end, the transfer table 10 includes a longitudinally extending guide track 20 which preferably extends for the full length of the transfer table betweenthe rails 15. This guide track may be constituted by a pair of oppositely disposed structural channels arranged as shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. A table sled, generally designated 22, is mounted by the guide track 20 for reciprocal movement therealong. The table sled 22 consists of sections 23, 24,25 and 26 connected to each other at their adjacent ends and mounted for movement in the guide track by pairs of rollers 28. The table sections 23 and 25 are essentially beams of different lengths and may be constructed' in a number of ways by suitable structural steel members. The sled sections 24 and 26 are as identical by but opposite hand construction, the section 26 being shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to these two FIGS., the sled section 26 consists of a pairof beams 30 suitably mounted in parallel spaced relation and connected to blocks 31 at their opposite ends, such blocks mounting the axles for the pairs of rollers 28. The beams 30 support opposite ends of a pivot pin 32, such pin being pivotally engaged at its central portion with one end of an arm 34. This arm, intermediate the ends thereof, is pivotally engaged, as by means of spin 35, with one end of a brace arm a 36. The arm 36 includes an abutment surface 37 adapted for abutting engagement with the face 38 ofa block 39 which is suitably mounted between the pair of beams 30. Also mounted between the beams 30 is an inclined plate 40 defining a slideway for the distal end of the arm 36.

The arm 34v includes an integral ear 42 at the end thereof adjacent the pin 32, this ear being pivotally engaged with one end of a spring assembly 43, which spring assembly has its other end connected to one or both of the beams 30 as indicated at 44. It will be understood that the spring assembly 43 acts on the arm 34 to urge the same in the erected position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the surface 37 in abutting engagement with the surface 38.

The upper end of the arm 34 is arranged for engagement with the axle 45 of a railway car (not shown). When the sled section 26 is moved from left to right as viewed in FIG. 4, the arm 34 will engage the axle 45 for imparting movement to the railway car. However, when the sled section is moved from right to left, engagement of the arm 34 with a railway car axle will result in the arm swinging in a clockwise direction and deflecting past such axle, this movement of the arm being permitted by the spring assembly 43.

One or more of the railway car engaging members 34 on the sled 22 may be deactivated by being latched to the position shown in FIG. 5. Arm 34 is held in a collapsed condition by a foot operated plate 46 which engages an extension 340 on the distal end of the arm. The plate 46 is pivotally mounted from an arm 47, which arm is welded or otherwise secured to a tube 48 joumaled on a pin 49, the latter being mounted by the beams 30. A spring 50 having opposite ends thereof engaged with the arm 47 and with a block 51 urges the plate 46 to the latching position as seen in FIG. 5. It will be apparent that the operator may step on the plate 46 for swinging the latter in a clockwise direction thereby to disengage such plate from the extension 34a whereupon the spring assembly 43 will erect the car. engaging arm 34 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. y

The table sled sections 23-26 are suitably connected together at their adjacent ends for movement in unison. As noted in FIG. 2, the section 23 mounts a depending arm 53 which is engaged with a cylindrical, shock absorbing structure 54. A chain or cable 55 has its respective ends connected to opposite ends of the assembly 54, such chain being trained around sprocket wheels 56 and 57 appropriately joumaled on the transfer table. The sprocket wheel 56 is driven by a chain or belt 58 engaged with the drive shaft 59 of an electric motor (not shown).

it is thus seen that the motor carried by the transfer table serves to impart reciprocal movement to the table sled 22 in a direction longitudinally of the transfer table. A substantial portion of the table sled may be extended from the end of the transfer table and into fixed guide tracks 62 consisting of channels 63 and 64 (FIG. 6). According to one embodiment of the present invention, the transfer table has a length of l 10 feet and the sled 22 has a length of approximately 27 feet. in this embodiment, the sled extends or reaches from the end of the table for a distance of approximately 17% feet.

At this time. it should be mentioned that the transfer table 10 is preferably equipped with two of the sleds 22 arranged in opposite hand relation and both connected to the cable 55 for movement in unison thereby alternately to be projected or extended from opposite ends of the transfer table. As will become apparent herein, a transfer table equipped with two of the table sleds may bring about progression of railway cars located on the track sections 18 at opposite ends of the transfer table.

Referring to FIG. 4, the end of the table sled 22 which extends from the transfer table mounts a coupler head 65 having a notch or opening 66. The head 65 is pivotally mounted on a pin 67, the latter having its opposite ends suitably mounted in apertures in a pair of plates 68 which are supported from the block 31. A bar 69 is fixed to the head 65, this bar being engaged by a spring assembly 70 for urging the head 65 to the phantom line position, illustrated in FIG. 4. A foot operated member 72 is pivoted on a pin 73, the latter having its opposite ends mounted in apertures in the plates 68. The member 72 has one end 74 thereof shaped and arranged for engagement with the upper surface of the head 65 for maintaining the same in the solid line position shown in FIG. 4. it will be apparent that member 72 may be kicked to one side thereby allowing the head 65 to be urged upwardly by the action of the spring assembly 70.

A guide track 62 is preferably provided with each of the track sections 18. A shop sled, generally designated 76 (FIG. 7), is mounted for reciprocal movement in each of the guide tracks 62. As noted in FIG. 7, the shop sled 76 consists of a plurality of sections 77 of various lengths, each supported by pairs of rollers 78 and connected by other sections 79 spaced along the shop sled 76 at appropriate intervals. The shop sled includes a plurality of car engaging members or robots 80 which may be of the same construction as the sled section 26 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The shop sled 76 may extend for as much as a 1,000 feet having the robots 80 spaced at intervals therealong for respectively engaging axles of railway cars located in spaced uncoupled relation along each of the various track sections 18.

Typical cross sections of the shop sled 76 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The shop sled consists of tube or bar sections 82 suitably connected together at their adjacent ends by detachable means thereby permitting a ready and convenient way for varying the length of the shop sled 76 to accommodate particular needs. Blocks 83 are mounted at respective opposite ends of the sections 77 such blocks each mounting an axle 84 for supporting the rollers 78.

Sled sections 79 consist of tubes or bars 86 each having one or more crossbars 87 mounted thereto. Each crossbar mounts a pair of rollers 88 at its respective opposite ends for rotation about vertical axes. These rollers engage the inner surfaces of the channels 63, 64 for aiding in the support of the shop sled and preventing buckling thereof when a pushing force is applied to the shop sled.

Referring to FlGS. l and 11, the end of the shop sled 76 which is adjacent the transfer table is connected to a short section 90 consisting of a tube identical to the tubes 82, 86, the short section being supported by a pair of rollers 78. The section 90 mounts a block 91 having a bifurcated portion defining an opening 92 in which is mounted a pin 93. it will be understood this pin is received within the opening 66 in the coupling member 65 on the shop sled 22, thereby to couple or engage the shop sled with the table sled.

It is thus seen that according to the present invention, the transfer table is moved for aligning the track segment thereon with one of the track sections 18, the table sled 22 is extended from the end of the transfer tables for coupling engagement with one of the shop sleds 76, and the shop sled is shifted or reciprocated upon corresponding movement of the table sled to advance or progress the railway cars along one of the track sections 18 toward the transfer table, such cars being supported in uncoupled spaced relation on the track sections. It will be understood that the stroke of movement of the table sled 22 preferably is sufficient to move a railway car on one of the track sections 18 completely onto the transfer table 10 in a continuous manner and without the necessity of relocating or repositioning one of the car engaging arms 34 with the railway car axles. The robots on each shop sled 76 are of course arranged for advancing cars toward the transfer table upon corresponding movement of the shop sled. When the shop sled is shifted or moved in the other direction, the car engaging members of the robots deflect and pass by the railway car axles. At this time it should be mentioned that in lieu of the arms 34 which engage the railway car axles, other suitable car engaging members may be employed.

After one or more railway cars have been moved onto the transfer table 10, the latter is moved along the rails 12 and the car or cars thereon are pushed off the transfer table to one of the other track sections 18. One of the car engaging members on the table sled serves to move the railway car from the transfer table. The table sled 22 serves as the power means for motive force for the shop sleds and accordingly the single powered means associated with the table sled is used to actuate a number of the shop sleds for simplified and low cost construction of the latter.

it may be desirable in some installations to provide powered means with each of the car engaging members for erecting and collapsing the same from a remote control station. Reference may be had to my aforesaid application, Ser. No. 548,740 now US. Pat. No. 3,408,953 for a showing of motor means to erect and collapse robots or car engaging members. Reference may be had to my U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,490 for a disclosure of a suitable electrical control system for the transfer table and a railway car moving assembly carried thereby.

I claim:

1. A railway car handling mechanism for simultaneously engaging and advancing a plurality of uncoupled railway cars located in spaced relation along a section of track, said mechanism including a guide track extending in a direction parallel to said section of railway track and for a length equal to a substantial portion of the length of said section of track, an elongated sled assembly mounted on said guide track for reciprocal movement therealong, said sled assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and a length substantially equal to the combined length of said plurality of uncoupled railway cars received on said track section, said sled assembly including a plurality of detachably connected sled sections and a plurality of railway car engaging members, each of said members being mounted on a selected one of said sled sections for movement with said sled assembly and such that said members are spaced along said sled assembly at predetermined intervals, the length of each interval being at least as great as the length of one of said railway cars, each of said members being adapted to engage one of said railway cars on said track section for moving the same in one direction upon movement of said sled assembly in said one direction and adapted to pass by said railway car when said sled assembly is moved in the other direction, and powered means engaged with said leading end of said sled assembly for imparting reciprocal movement to said sled assembly through a stroke the length of which is at least equal to the length of one of said railway cars.

2. The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said sled sections includes an elongated, slender element having rollers mounted thereto at locations spaced along the length of said element, said rollers being respectively mounted for rotation about generally horizontally and vertical axes contained in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said element, and whereinsaid guide track includes guide means, in the form of elongated trackways, for engaging said rollers and for substantially confining said element thereby to prevent buckling of said element.

3. A mechanism for handling railway cars comprising, a transfer table having a. segment of railway track thereon, means for moving said transfer table in both directions along a path perpendicular to said track segment, a stationary section of railway track having a=length sufficient to receive a plurality of uncoupled railway cars in spaced relation therealong and extending in adirection parallel to said track segment a guide track extending in a direction parallel to said track section and for a substantial portion of the length of said track section, an elongated sled means mounted on said guide track for reciprocal movement therealong and having a length substantially equal to the combined length of said plurality of uncoupled railway cars received on said track section, said sled means including a coupling element on the end thereof which is adjacent said transfer table, a plurality of railway car engaging members mounted on said sled means for movement therewith, said members being spaced along said sled means at predetermined intervals. the length of each interval being at least as great as the length of one of said railway cars, each of said members being adapted to engage one of said uncoupled railway cars on said track section for moving said one railway car toward said transfer table upon corresponding movement of said sled means and adapted to pass by said railway car when said sled means is moved in the other direction, and at least one powered means on said transfer table mounted for reciprocal movement along a horizontal path parallel with said track segment and having at least one end which is adapted to extend beyond the end of said transfer table which is adjacent said track section when said powered means is moved to said end of said transfer table said powered means including a coupling member mounted on said one end thereof and adapted for coupling engagement with said coupling element when said track segment is aligned with said track section and said powered means is moved to said end of said transfer table, said powered means, when coupled to sled means, being adapted to impart reciprocal movement to said sled means through a stroke the lengthof which is at least equal to said length of one of said railway cars, and said transfer table having guide means thereon for receiving said sled means when said sled means is reciprocated by said powered means.

4. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said guide means includes a guide track mounted on said transfer table for alignment with said first mentioned guide track when said track segment is aligned with said track section, said powered means including a table sled mounted on said guide track on said transfer table for reciprocal movement therealong, said coupling member being mounted on the end of said table sled which is nearer said track section, and power means on said transfer table, said power means being connected to said table sled for reciprocating said table sled through a stroke the length of which is at least equal to said length of one of said railway cars.

5. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said powered means includes a pair of railway car engaging members mounted on said table sled.

6. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said sled means includes at least one elongated slender element having rollers mounted thereto at locations spaced along the length of said slender element, said rollers being respectively mounted for rotation about generally horizontal and vertical axes contained in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said slender element, and said guide track including elongated trackways engaging said rollers and substantially confining said slender element thereby to prevent buckling of said element.

7. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said sled means includes a plurality of sections and each of said sections has means at the opposite ends thereof for detachably engaging with, and coup ing to, the ad acent end of another one of said sections,

8. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said powered means includes at least one of said railway car engaging members mounted on said powered means.

, 9. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said powered means includes at least one of said railway car engaging members mounted on said table sled.

10. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said powered means includes a second table sled mounted on said guide track on said transfer table in opposite hand relation to said first mentioned table sled and having a coupling member mounted on the end of said second table sled which is farthest from said first mentioned table sled, said power means being connected to said second table sled, and said coupling member being adapted to extend beyond the end of said transfer table opposite said first mentioned end of said transfer table, when said second table sled is moved to said opposite end of said transfer table, for coupling to a second sled means similar to said first mentioned sled means. 

1. A railway car handling mechanism for simultaneously engaging and advancing a plurality of uncoupled railway cars located in spaced relation along a section of track, said mechanism including a guide track extending in a direction parallel to said section of railway track and for a length equal to a substantial portion of the length of said section of track, an elongated sled assembly mounted on said guide track for reciprocal movement therealong, said sled assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and a length substantially equal to the combined length of said plurality of uncoupled railway cars received on said track section, said sled assembly including a plurality of detachably connected sled sections and a plurality of railway car engaging members, each of said members being mounted on a selected one of said sled sections for movement with said sled assembly and such that said members are spaced along said sled assembly at predetermined intervals, the length of each interval being at least as great as the length of one of said railway cars, each of said members being adapted to engage one of said railway cars on said track section for moving the same in one direction upon movement of said sled assembly in said one direction and adapted to pass by said railway car when said sled assembly is moved in the other direction, and powered means engaged with said leading end of said sled assembly for imparting reciprocal movement to said sled assembly through a stroke the length of which is at least equal to the length of one of said railway cars.
 2. The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said sled sections includes an elongated, slender element having rollers mounted thereto at locations spaced along the length of said element, said rollers being respectively mounted for rotation about generally horizontally and vertical axes contained in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said element, and wherein said guide track includes guide means, in the form of elongated trackways, for engaging said rollers and for substantially confining said element thereby to prevent buckling of said element.
 3. A mechanism for handling railway cars comprising, a transfer table having a segment of railway track thereon, means for moving said transfer table in both directions along a path perpendicular to said track segment, a stationary section of railway track having a length sufficient to receive a plurality of uncoupled railway cars in spaced relation therealong and extending in a direction parallel to said track segment a guide track extending in a direction parallel to said track section and for a substantial portion of the length of said track section, an elongated sled means mounted on said guide track for reciprocal movement therealong and having a length substantially equal to the combined length of said plurality of uncoupled railway cars received on said track section, said sled means including a coupling element on the end thereof which is adjacent said transfer table, a plurality of railway car engaging members mounted on said sled means for movement therewith, said members being spaced along saId sled means at predetermined intervals, the length of each interval being at least as great as the length of one of said railway cars, each of said members being adapted to engage one of said uncoupled railway cars on said track section for moving said one railway car toward said transfer table upon corresponding movement of said sled means and adapted to pass by said railway car when said sled means is moved in the other direction, and at least one powered means on said transfer table mounted for reciprocal movement along a horizontal path parallel with said track segment and having at least one end which is adapted to extend beyond the end of said transfer table which is adjacent said track section when said powered means is moved to said end of said transfer table, said powered means including a coupling member mounted on said one end thereof and adapted for coupling engagement with said coupling element when said track segment is aligned with said track section and said powered means is moved to said end of said transfer table, said powered means, when coupled to sled means, being adapted to impart reciprocal movement to said sled means through a stroke the length of which is at least equal to said length of one of said railway cars, and said transfer table having guide means thereon for receiving said sled means when said sled means is reciprocated by said powered means.
 4. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said guide means includes a guide track mounted on said transfer table for alignment with said first mentioned guide track when said track segment is aligned with said track section, said powered means including a table sled mounted on said guide track on said transfer table for reciprocal movement therealong, said coupling member being mounted on the end of said table sled which is nearer said track section, and power means on said transfer table, said power means being connected to said table sled for reciprocating said table sled through a stroke the length of which is at least equal to said length of one of said railway cars.
 5. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said powered means includes a pair of railway car engaging members mounted on said table sled.
 6. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said sled means includes at least one elongated slender element having rollers mounted thereto at locations spaced along the length of said slender element, said rollers being respectively mounted for rotation about generally horizontal and vertical axes contained in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said slender element, and said guide track including elongated trackways engaging said rollers and substantially confining said slender element thereby to prevent buckling of said element.
 7. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said sled means includes a plurality of sections and each of said sections has means at the opposite ends thereof for detachably engaging with, and coupling to, the adjacent end of another one of said sections.
 8. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said powered means includes at least one of said railway car engaging members mounted on said powered means.
 9. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said powered means includes at least one of said railway car engaging members mounted on said table sled.
 10. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said powered means includes a second table sled mounted on said guide track on said transfer table in opposite hand relation to said first mentioned table sled and having a coupling member mounted on the end of said second table sled which is farthest from said first mentioned table sled, said power means being connected to said second table sled, and said coupling member being adapted to extend beyond the end of said transfer table opposite said first mentioned end of said transfer table, when said second table sled is moved to said opposite end of said transfer table, for coupling to a second sled means similar to said firSt mentioned sled means. 